SpongeBob Creator – Stephen Hillenburg – Passes Away At 57

I remember when I was a kid not so long ago. I’m a 90s kid, so that means that I got the opportunity to grow up with some pretty awesome cartoons. Some of them being Hey Arnold, Cat-Dog, Rocko’s Modern Life, Rugrats, and Ren and Stimpy. But my all time favorite childhood cartoon was SpongeBob SquarePants.

I remember watching the very first episode when I was 6 years old. I instantly fell in love with its signature style of humor. Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Crabs, and everyone’s favorite little sponge were all memorable characters, and that’s what made the show so legendary. One episode in particular – “Band Geeks” – defined an entire generation of kids.

If you’ve seen it, you know exactly why it’s so triumphant. Even as a 25 year old, I still go back and re-watch old episodes, and they’re still just as funny as ever. That’s why I’m so sad to have to announce that the creator of the show – Stehpen Hillenburg – has passed away at the rather untimely age of 57. He died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which he was just diagnosed with last year.